Are human beings the only creatures on Earth with souls?

Question

I am not Christians, so the soul concept is not something I readily accept. However, I am wondering if religious believers think that only humans have souls or if animals and such have souls as well. Please explain why you think that only humans do or why you think animals do as well.

Its a serious question. Are other earthly creatures capable of entering Heaven? Is God reserved only for humans?

Answer 1

Animals have souls too but I guess it's different from human beings. I have personally seen a cow "crying" while being led to a slaughterhouse. This shows that animals have feelings and thus, a soul too.

The Buddhists believes that all living things have a soul...from human beings to animals to insects. Yes, they are capable of entering Heaven too...if you believe in God.

Answer 2

The entire universe and all creations, living or non living are a manifestation of a single Supreme Soul which we call God. At such everything and everything in this universe is part of that Soul. Thus there is soul in everything.

To answer your question specifically, yes all living beings have within them an individualized soul. This soul is the pure and unmanifested form of the universal Soul. Iis unity with the universe is not realized due to the blanket of ego which covers it and gives it a unique identity. The soul moves from one form to another to fulfill its duties ( even from plant to animal to human or in any other direction ) and once it has fulfilled its duties, the blanket of ego is removed and the soul realizes its unity with the universe and becomes one with God.

Answer 3

If there is "soul," all life would be an aspect of that soul. Creation itself is the emergence of "soul." Think about water: You can have a puddle, a stream or an ocean but it s all the same thing, it just looks different to us because there SEEMS to be a finite separation between each when none really exists. All water moves around the Earth and through the Earth, evaporates into the air to fall another place. It s in constant in motion in all 4 dimensions (time is the 4th) which is called the hydrologic cycle.

Answer 4

St Francis of Assisi felt that the animals were his "brothers and sisters". That would be an indication from the perspective of one of the largest Christian denominations that animals DO have souls.

Personally, because biblically animals did not pertake of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil as did Adam and Eve, they would essentially have a "free pass" into Heaven due to the inherant inablity to sin by failing to do the Will of the Divine......

Answer 5

Yes, only humans have souls.

God would not require the sacrifice of creatures with living souls as burn offerings. Animals were required as burnt offerings in the old testament.

And besides----if animals had souls who would their savior be?

And they would have enough rational ability to have free will,
animals have instinct, not free will.

I love animals. But I cherish them, as I know we will have them for but a short time.

Answer 6

I happen to believe that animals have souls, different from ours, but souls because they are so amazing and do so much and have a view of heaven that we dont.

Answer 7

I don't believe in any of the such but some Buddhist believe in the Buddha nature in lower animals .that's as close as I've heard tell .

Answer 8

Other creatures have souls also.
But human souls are the only ones worth harvesting.

Answer 9

No, we are the only animals who THINK they have souls....well some of them anyway

Answer 10

human being created by God with clay and mud
according to christianity